Greeks Say FU to EU Bailout

ATHENS - A government-backed "no" in Greece's bailout referendum is set to win, according to the country's Interior Ministry.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras halted negotiations with creditors to hold the vote and seek a popular rejection of austerity measures. But European officials have warned a "no" vote could risk Greece's membership of the euro.

The opposition accused Tsipras of jeopardizing the country's membership in the 19-nation club that uses the euro and said a "yes" vote was about keeping the common currency.

With 87 percent of the votes counted, the "no" side had more than 60 percent.

"Today we celebrate the victory of democracy," Tsipras, who gambled the future of his 5-month-old left-wing government on the vote, said in an address to the nation.

The vote on Sunday was about the country's financial future, choosing in a referendum whether to accept creditors' demands for more austerity in return for rescue loans or defiantly reject the deal.

The projected margin late Sunday was higher than originally indicated by polling date when the polls closed at 7 p.m. (1600 GMT).

A senior Greek opposition official said the expected "no" vote win in Sunday's bailout referendum will increase pressure on the government to reach a deal with creditors.